Many are familiar with the Jackson campus of Union University — the iconic Miller clock tower, the dome of the Logos building and the great lawn, built over time since its move from downtown Jackson.
However, the current campus is descended originally from the campus in Murfreesboro that was built with money collected by circuit minister, Bradley Kimbrough. Kimbrough was born in November 1799 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. He grew up on a farm and, though his father was a preacher, received his education through intermittent breaks of farming. He began practicing law in 1824 but later turned to preaching.
In the 1840s, Kimbrough was part of a group who wanted to establish an endowment for Union University and build a physical building for the school. He volunteered to help raise money, which he collected while on his routes as circuit preacher in less than two years. Afterwards, Kimbrough continued to serve as a minister and missionary until his death in June 1874. Parts of his journey and life as a Baptist minister are recorded in his diary which is held in the Union University archives.
— Savannah Patterson
Public services librarian
Union University, Jackson
